Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires: Waterfalls & White Sands (Self-Launched)
17 days · Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£1,795 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 17-day 18-to-Thirtysomethings route from Rio to Buenos Aires — Copacabana, Ilha Grande's beaches, colonial Paraty, the thundering Iguassu Falls, a working ranch stay in Uruguay, Montevideo and finally tango-fuelled Buenos Aires. You book everything yourself: hostels instead of shared hotels, the cheap Costa Verde bus instead of a private minivan, a commercial domestic flight to Foz do Iguaçu instead of a group booking, and the public bus across into Uruguay. Same route, same highlights, roughly a third of the tour price — all figures are approximate budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Rio de Janeiro — Copacabana evening
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Land at Galeão (GIG) or Santos Dumont (SDU) and get to Copacabana or Ipanema by the executive bus (BRS/Real-style airport bus, ~£4) or a metered taxi/99/Uber (~£10-15). Check into a hostel a couple of blocks back from the beach. In the evening grab a cold beer at one of the kiosks (quiosques) along Copacabana promenade — cheap, social, and the easiest way to meet other travellers.
🚌Airport bus or rideshare to Copacabana (~£4-15)
🛏Hostel dorm in Copacabana/Ipanema (~£15/night)
- →Copacabana beachfront walk
- →Beer at a beach quiosque
- →Lapa nightlife (optional)
Rio — favela community experience & city exploring
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Book a community-run favela tour directly (e.g. with a local resident guide in Vidigal or Santa Marta via GetYourGuide, ~£20-25) — many include a drumming or capoeira demo and support the community directly. Afternoon free: ride the historic Santa Teresa tram, visit Selarón Steps and the Lapa Arches, or take the Sugarloaf cable car (Pão de Açúcar, ~£22) for sunset. Cheap eats: a prato feito (plate of the day) for £5-7.
🚌Metro and walking (~£3)
🛏Hostel dorm in Copacabana/Ipanema (~£15/night)
- →Community-run favela tour (~£22)
- →Selarón Steps & Lapa Arches
- →Sugarloaf cable car (optional, ~£22)
Rio → Ilha Grande
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Take the Costa Verde bus from Rio's Novo Rio rodoviária to Conceição de Jacareí (~2.5-3 hrs, £8-10), then the ferry or fast boat across to Abraão village on Ilha Grande (~£4-6). Book the bus in advance with Costa Verde or via Busbud. There are no cars on the island — it's sandals and walking from here. Afternoon swim at Abraão beach and pick a seafood dinner spot.
🚌Costa Verde bus Rio→Conceição de Jacareí (~£9) + ferry (~£5)
🛏Pousada/hostel in Vila do Abraão (~£16/night)
- →Abraão beach swim
- →Island village wandering
Ilha Grande — beaches by boat or hike to Lopes Mendes
Ilha Grande, Brazil
Two classic options: (1) join a shared schooner boat trip around the island — Lagoa Azul, Lopes Mendes and snorkelling spots (~£15-20 with lunch, bookable at the pier or via GetYourGuide); or (2) hike the well-marked trail from Abraão to Lopes Mendes beach (~2.5-3 hrs each way, free) — arguably Brazil's most beautiful white-sand beach. Either way, pack water, cash and reef-safe sunscreen.
🚌Walking / shared boat
🛏Pousada/hostel in Vila do Abraão (~£16/night)
- →Shared island boat trip (~£18)
- →Lopes Mendes hike (free)
- →Snorkelling
Ilha Grande → Paraty
Paraty, Brazil
Boat back to the mainland, then take the local bus or shared van along the coast to Paraty (~1.5-2 hrs, £5-8; the Angra dos Reis–Paraty bus is frequent and cheap). Check into a hostel in the colonial centre. Spend the late afternoon wandering Paraty's cobblestone, car-free streets — and stop at a small cachaça shop or distillery for a tasting (a flight is a few pounds).
🚌Local bus/van Conceição→Paraty (~£6)
🛏Hostel in Paraty historic centre (~£16/night)
- →Paraty historic centre walk
- →Cachaça tasting (~£5)
Paraty — bay boat trip or Trindade day trip
Paraty, Brazil
Take a shared schooner (escuna) trip around Paraty Bay — around 5 hours with swimming stops and snorkelling (~£15-20, book at the pier or GetYourGuide). Alternative: local bus to Trindade (~£2) for wild beaches and natural rock pools (Cachadaço). Evening: live samba or forró in the old town, usually free with a drink.
🚌Walking / local bus (~£4)
🛏Hostel in Paraty historic centre (~£16/night)
- →Paraty Bay boat trip (~£18)
- →Trindade beaches (optional)
- →Live samba in old town
Fly Paraty → Foz do Iguaçu
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Transfer to Rio (shared van or bus, ~£10) and fly Rio–Foz do Iguaçu (GIG→IGU) on GOL/LATAM/Azul — book 2-4 weeks ahead for £60-110 one-way. Alternatively the 22-hour overnight bus is ~£45 but eats a day. Settle into a hostel in Foz and prep for the falls tomorrow: exchange cash, buy water, book your Argentine-side park ticket online if you can.
🚌Bus/van Paraty→Rio (~£10) + domestic flight (~£85)
🛏Hostel in Foz do Iguaçu (~£14/night)
- →Travel day
Iguassu Falls — Argentine side
Puerto Iguazú, Argentina
Cross into Argentina (public bus 120 or taxi/rideshare over the Tancredo Neves bridge, passports processed en route, ~£2-5). Spend the full day in Parque Nacional Iguazú — park entry ~£25-30, buy online. Walk the Upper and Lower Circuits and the Devil's Throat (Garganta del Diablo) catwalk. Optional: the Gran Aventura boat ride under the falls (~£40). Return to Foz by bus in the evening (or stay the night in Puerto Iguazú if you prefer).
🚌Bus 120 to Puerto Iguazú & park shuttle (~£6)
🛏Hostel in Foz do Iguaçu or Puerto Iguazú (~£15/night)
- →Argentine side of Iguassu Falls (park entry ~£28)
- →Devil's Throat catwalk
- →Gran Aventura boat (optional, ~£40)
Iguassu Falls — Brazilian side, then overnight bus to Uruguay
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Morning on the Brazilian side of the falls — Parque Nacional do Iguaçu entry ~£15-18, and the panoramic walkway gives the classic wide-angle view of the whole cascade. Optional extras: Parque das Aves bird park (~£14) or a 10-minute helicopter flight (~£100, book direct at the helipad). Late afternoon: board the overnight bus from Foz do Iguaçu toward Uruguay (change at Salto or Concordia for Mercedes/Fray Bentos — total ~12-14 hrs, ~£30-40; book with a Brazilian operator or via Busbud/Plataforma 10).
🚌Park bus (~£3) + overnight long-distance bus (~£35)
🛏Overnight bus (reclining seat)
- →Brazilian side of the falls (~£17)
- →Parque das Aves (optional, ~£14)
- →Helicopter ride (optional, ~£100)
Arrive Uruguay — estancia stay
Fray Bentos / Gualeguaychú area, Uruguay
Arrive early morning and transfer to a working estancia in the Uruguayan countryside (a handful of guest ranches around Fray Bentos and the Río Negro take independent bookers — book direct by email, roughly £45-60/night full board). Days run on ranch time: help with horses and cattle, ride out, walk the fields, and eat asado fresh off the grill. Note the G Adventures tour uses a partner estancia — book your own equivalent directly.
🚌Local bus/remis to the estancia (~£8)
🛏Estancia ranch, shared room, full board (~£55/night incl. meals)
- →Horseback riding
- →Asado dinner
- →Farm and countryside walk
Estancia — full day of rural Uruguay life
Fray Bentos / Gualeguaychú area, Uruguay
A full day at the ranch with no schedule: morning milking or gaucho (gaucho-style) riding, an afternoon by the river or in the shade with mate, and another long communal dinner. Bring a book, insect repellent and cash — many estancias don't take cards and there's no ATM nearby.
🚌Walking / on-ranch
🛏Estancia ranch, shared room, full board (~£55/night incl. meals)
- →Ranch work and riding
- →River swim
- →Mate and asado
Estancia → Montevideo
Montevideo, Uruguay
Travel to Montevideo by public bus (from Mercedes or Fray Bentos via Terminal Tres Cruces, ~3-4 hrs, £10-14 — book with COT or Turil). Afternoon free in the capital: wander the Ciudad Vieja's street art, browse the Mercado del Puerto for grilled meat (start with a chivito or a parrilla plate, £8-12), and visit the Museo del Carnaval (~£2) or the Estadio Centenario if you're a football fan (~£7).
🚌Public bus to Montevideo (~£12)
🛏Hostel in Montevideo centre (~£18/night)
- →Ciudad Vieja street art walk
- →Mercado del Puerto
- →Museo del Carnaval (~£2)
Montevideo — coast cycle or Colonia day trip
Montevideo, Uruguay
Either cycle the Rambla (the waterfront promenade — bike rental ~£8 for the day, the ride to Carrasco beach and back is a great half-day), or take a morning bus to Colonia del Sacramento (~2.5 hrs, £10 each way) to wander the UNESCO-listed Portuguese old town — or rent a golf cart there for a few hours. Back in Montevideo for dinner and maybe some candombe drumming on a Sunday (free in the Barrio Sur).
🚌Bus (~£20 return) or local bike hire
🛏Hostel in Montevideo centre (~£18/night)
- →Rambla cycle (~£8)
- →Colonia del Sacramento day trip (optional, ~£20 return bus)
Montevideo → Buenos Aires by ferry
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Take the fast ferry across the Río de la Plata — Buquebus or Colonia Express, Montevideo–Buenos Aires is ~2.5-3 hrs and costs £30-45 booked ahead online. Arrive in Buenos Aires, check into a hostel in San Telmo, Palermo or Monserrat, then eat: a parrilla dinner with wine is £12-18. The city comes alive after 10pm — San Telmo and Palermo Soho are the easy first-night picks.
🚌Buquebus/Colonia Express ferry (~£38)
🛏Hostel in San Telmo/Palermo (~£18/night)
- →Río de la Plata ferry crossing
- →Parrilla dinner
- →Palermo Soho evening
Buenos Aires — city, La Boca & San Telmo
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Self-guided city day: Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the famous El Ateneo Grand Splendid bookshop — all free to enter. Take the public bus or Subte to La Boca to see El Caminito's painted houses (~£1 entry, watch your belongings). Spend the late afternoon at the San Telmo Sunday antiques market if it's a Sunday, or in the Recoleta Cemetery (free) and the MALBA art museum (~£3).
🚌Subte/bus day pass (~£2)
🛏Hostel in San Telmo/Palermo (~£18/night)
- →Plaza de Mayo & Casa Rosada
- →La Boca / El Caminito
- →Recoleta Cemetery, MALBA (optional)
Buenos Aires — bike tour, La Boca & tango show
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Join a self-bookable Buenos Aires bike tour (GetYourGuide/Baja Bikes, ~£25-30, 3-4 hrs covering Puerto Madero, La Boca, San Telmo and Recoleta). Alternative: a free walking tour (tip-based, £5-8). Tonight, book a tango dinner show in San Telmo or Abasto via GetYourGuide (~£45-65 including dinner) — or go the budget route: a group tango lesson at a milonga (~£8-12) plus a bottle of Malbec.
🚌Walking / Subte (~£3)
🛏Hostel in San Telmo/Palermo (~£18/night)
- →Buenos Aires bike tour (~£28)
- →Tango dinner show (~£55) or milonga lesson (~£10)
Depart Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Final morning: coffee and medialunas at a neighbourhood café, a last wander through Palermo's parks or the Feria de Mataderos if it's a weekend, then head to Ezeiza (EZE) airport — the Tienda León shuttle is ~£10 or a taxi/rideshare ~£20-25. Flight home not included in the estimate.
🚌Airport shuttle or rideshare (~£10-25)
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Café breakfast
- →Palermo walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,795 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 17 days | 17 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £555 per person (24%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,795
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires: Waterfalls & White Sands (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,795 per person for 17 days in Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,795 — a saving of roughly £555 (24%) per person.
How long is the Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina trip?+
This itinerary runs 17 days, covering 17 day-by-day stops through Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a backpacker, adventure, beaches trip through Brazil, Uruguay & Argentina, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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